Tomorrow Sony has a major product announcement and the preorder page is already up at BHphoto (Click here). Looks like we are getting a new Venice Extension System Mini (see specs and image below). But I have to share two curiosities:

1. I don’t recall Sony doing a teaser for such smaller niche product announcements in the past… so I wonder if there will be something ‘more’….
2. Why the hell is Sony US sticking with this stupid 1 day delay on reordering. They’ve been doing big teasers for 10 years and on the day of the announcement people can’t preorder anything and have to wait 24 hours. Why?

One more thing: One “Influencer” shared an Easter egg about the “FX3II”. Don’t fall for it…this is a”trap” for an April 1 joke :)

This is a leaked press release:

Sony has announced that it will release a scaled-down VENICE expansion module on March 26, 2025, designed to deliver next-generation visual content in an ultra-compact form factor. The VENICE Extension System Mini (model CBK-3621XS) has a built-in 8.6K full-frame CMOS sensor that retains the image quality of VENICE 2, but is approximately 70% smaller than the VENICE Extension System 2 (image block volume ratio). Flexibility is built into every corner of the compact design. A slim, soft, detachable cable brings greater freedom to filmmaking, while also opening up XR content creation and stitching shooting. SAR
The PL mount adapter supports more lens selection and metadata recording. Assignable buttons and numerous mounting holes allow photographers to mount and shoot to their preferences. This compact system is ideal for handheld, gimbal, and POV shooting. 

At the CP+ show PetaPixel had a quick chat with Masaaki Oshima, Head of Sony Imaging Entertainment Business Unit. He said that Sony has maintained its competitive advantage in three ways:

• The first is that we have our own image sensor company in our group
• The second is that we are focusing on not only the camera and the lens, but also total workflow solution (Creative Cloud, lot’s of accessories and so forth)
• Third is our AI-based technologies

They also chatted with Masanori Kishi, Senior General Manager of Sony Lens Technology and Systems Business Unit.

Kishi says that the openness of the E-mount is a “strong point” of the Sony Alpha system:

“It pushes us. The E-mount has the biggest ecosystem compared to other mounts, making it a mount system that holds greater potential for creators. Our system offers many more opportunities than compared to others, as we are developing it in collaboration with third-party manufacturers.”

My take:
Sony has avoided sharing any interesting details. Obviously the marina advantage of the E-mount system is that it has a ton of lenses. Would love if Sony would also open the E-mount to camera manufacturer. Imagine having a Full Frame OM-3 or a DJI E-mount camera :)

China is probably the most important market for camera manufacturers. And when it comes to Chinese bird photographers, this was the camera market share in 2024:

1. Canon: 1st place with 56.5%
2. Nikon: 2nd place with 29.25%
3. Sony: 3rd place with 18.22%
4. Others: 3.45%

And here the top 10 best selling camera:

1. Canon EOS R5 (11.75%)
2. Sony α1 (10.23%)
3. Nikon Z9 (9.12%)
4. Canon EOS R3 (7.78%)
5. Nikon Z8 (6.06%)
6. Canon EOS R7 (5.79%)
7. Canon EOS-1DX Mark III (5.16%)
8. Canon EOS-1DX Mark II (4.05%)
9. Nikon D850 (3.17%)
10. Sony α9II (2.96%)

via Weibo

Sony FX30 Cinema Camera Review After 2 Years of Use (Approved by Netflix)

Today deals at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, FotoErhardt DE, FotoKoch DE.
Neutral Density Filters for Landscapes: A Primer (Explora).
How to Use Portable Studio Lighting Outdoors: A Comprehensive Guide (42West).
10 Great Cameras From 10 Years Ago That You Can Purchase Today (ThePhoBlographer).
At CP+ 2025 it finally felt like the camera industry got its mojo back (Dpreview).
5 Tips to Try for Autumn Leaves Photography (42West).
Choosing a Lens for Wildlife Photography (Explora).

Follow our new Youtube channel.
Join our SonyAlphaForum.
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We have our own Facebook camera groups you can join to discuss the upcoming new cameras in detail:
Sony Alpha group. Sony A1 group. Sony A9 series group. Sony A7r series group. Sony A7s series group. Sony A7 series group

Smallrig new docking station is now available for preorder at BHphoto, Amazon and Smallrig.

More hot deals:

• You get the 4-Pack Airtags for $64 only at Amazon (click here). I use them to track all my gear with these tools.
• OWC 960GB T4.0 generation Type A card for the lowest price ever on Amazon (Click here). You also save big on the 480GB and 240GB cards
• Lowest price ever now on this Sony TOUGH Sd card sold by Amazon (Click here).
• $70 discount on the Kingston 1TB SD card sold by Amazon (click here).
• Until 30 March, you can save 30% on your Luminar purchase (click here) when you use our checkout code ‘SAR30’.
• The Samyang/Rokinon 135mm f/1.8 FE lens now sells for its lowest price ever at $622 on Amazon and BHphoto.
• Alphagvrd launched this new E-mount sensor cap with built-in Airtag support. You can preorder it now (Click here) with a 15% discount using the checkout code “Creative Weapon”.

GFX100RF vs Sony RX1rII

Fujifilm’s main goal when developing the new GFX100RF was to make it as compact as possible. This is how it compares with the smallest full-frame camera with a fixed lens, the now 10-year-old Sony RX1rII:

So when it comes to the thickness (camera+lens) the Fuji is really close to the Sony. But they has to give up on brightness (lens if f/3.1 in FF terms compared to the f/2.0 Zeiss lens on the Sony). But the camera is wider and much taller.

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via CameraSize

Astrhori will announce this new 6.5mm f/2 fisheye APS-C E-mount manual focusing lens on March 25.